Californian legislators may be down on the forthcoming national 2012 CAFE and emission standards, but they scored a victory today. Citing law and science as its guides, the EPA has awarded the state the right to set its own emission standards between now and 2012.
“This decision puts the law and science first. After review of the scientific findings, and another comprehensive round of public engagement, I have decided this is the appropriate course under the law,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.
“This waiver is consistent with the Clean Air Act as it’s been used for the last 40 years and supports the prerogatives of the 13 states and the District of Columbia who have opted to follow California’s lead.”
California had filed for a waiver to the current standards back in 2005, but the appeal was denied in 2008. At the time, administrators based their decision on the belief that California didn’t have a need to regulate greenhouse gas emissions to “compelling and extraordinary conditions.”
Both the State of California and the Obama administration pushed for a review of the denial, prompting the EPA to reflect on the Clean Air Act (which gives the EPA the authority to allow state-by-state emission standards), past case evidence, and the latest technical information.
Although California has been granted a waiver allowing the state to regulate emissions, California’s own rules end in 2012 when the national standards take effect. What the effects of California’s standard will be on automakers remains to be seen, as the state has not yet announced its stopgap standards.